The Ottawa Hospital says it will now have nurses trained to deal with sexual assault victims 24 hours a day.
The hospital is moving forward with changes to its staffing structure that will ensure a nurse with the appropriate training is always available.
The move comes after a woman who was sexually assaulted sought care at the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus on Sunday.
However, a nurse trained to deal with sexual assault cases was not available. The hospital gave the woman a choice – either wait until the next day to see a nurse, or seek care in Cornwall or Renfrew.
The Ottawa police helped the patient get to Renfrew, where she was given the care she needed.
The hospital has since apologized to the woman, her family and the community for not being able to provide the necessary care.
"The incident was unacceptable and we regret that it happened," Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO Gino Picciano stated in a news release.
"We also acknowledge that this was not an isolated incident. A comprehensive review has been done and immediate measures are in place to ensure no other patient is faced with a similar delay in care."
In recent weeks, a handful of other sexual assault victims have also been denied immediate care at the hospital.
